Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Dog & Cat Shampoo, 1-gal bottle

Shake well before using. On a wet coat, lather your pet thoroughly with a few good palm-fulls of earthbath Totally Natural Pet Shampoo. Remember to eliminate all escape routes well in advance (a tip: once your pet is slippery wet, he or she is suddenly smarter and faster than you are). Work lather from head to tail, paying special attention to irritated areas. Keep out of eyes. Leave on for at least 90 seconds to allow oatmeal and aloe vera to work their magic. May be diluted ten parts water to one part shampoo if desired.

Why buy earthbath when I can just wash my pet with soap or baby shampoo?

Believe it or not, your pet’s skin is actually more sensitive than a baby’s because it is covered with fur. earthbath shampoo is pH balanced to be milder than soap or even baby shampoo. Soap can be especially drying to a pet’s skin and leave residue in the fur, causing itching, dandruff and shedding. Soap is also more likely to wash off any topical flea preparations, while our soap-free formulas are perfectly safe.

What is the difference between soap and detergent?

Both clean well, but see the question above. All cleansing ingredients can be classified as detergents and soap is one of them. The best explanation is by analogy: cars and airplanes are both means of transportation, but each functions differently. Soap and plant or vegetable-based cleansers are both detergents, but have different chemical compositions and health properties.

Is earthbath safe to use on my other pets - like ferrets, rabbits, horses, etc.

Absolutely, although we do make shampoos specifically for horses’ special needs for sunscreen and pest repellency. The most important criterion for pet shampoo is that it be mild and pH-balanced. All of our products are formulated with the mildest ingredients available and are pH-balanced for safety and mildness for animals’ sensitive skin. If you decide to wash a small animal, we suggest you first dilute the shampoo into an equal amount of water to increase further the mildness, or to use a grooming wipe. Happy sudsing!

Why are earthbath products paraben free and phthalate free?

earthbath products are paraben and phthalate free because we’re committed to making our products as safe and gentle as possible. Parabens are a group of chemicals that have been widely used as preservatives in human and pet shampoos, but in 1998, the US Environmental Protection Agency released a report stating that parabens – butyl, ethyl, methyl and propyl varieties – demonstrated “estrogenic activity.” This means that these chemicals could possibly imitate hormones found in the human body and have an adverse effect on our endocrine system when absorbed by the skin or flushed into our drinking supply. Phthalates are molecules found in some fragrances which have been linked to birth defects. While these scientific findings can be controversial, we have decided to play it safe for the health of our customers.

Do I need to dilute earthbath before using it?

No. earthbath is very mild and is blended to be used full strength. Should you wish to make your shampoo go further, you may dilute it up to 10 parts water to 1 part shampoo. Gallons may be diluted 33 parts water to 1 part shampoo.

What makes shampoo hypoallergenic?

Hypoallergenic refers to a product’s mildness and property of being unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. A true hypoallergenic shampoo should be pH-balanced very close to a value of 7 (water is pH neutral and has a value of 7.0) and should contain no color or fragrance. Color and fragrance are frequently the culprits of allergic reactions.

Do you offer product refills?

Do you test your products on animals?Our products are animal cruelty free and contain no animal ingredients or byproducts.

I love how earthbath smells... can I use it myself?

earthbath shampoos are all human-grade, but are pH-balanced for pets’ more sensitive skin. However, this hasn’t stopped our CEO from using it daily. Go ahead, give it a try. We won’t judge, just please bring us our slippers and newspaper on time from now on.

Why doesn't earthbath have the USDA Organic Seal?

We don’t want it for our grooming products, nor should you. To the best of our knowledge, to have the USDA Organic Seal, a grooming solution must contain 100% organic SOAP. We give you our unconditional promise that we’ll never put soap into any earthbath product. Soap dries out animals’ skin and coats, leaves residue in the fur that can cause irritation and allergies, and it will wash off topical flea applications.earthbath products presently meet the USDA “made with organic ingredients” requirements and we are well down the path to achieving a coveted organic certification used in the environmentally innovative European Union. More later… thanks for asking and encouraging us to do so.

Do earthbath products contain sulfates?

No, our products do not contain SLS, SLES or ALS.

Why do some of your products contain tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil? I heard they were toxic to pets.

Eucalyptus oil and melaleuca oil (tea tree) are wonderfully fragrant essential oils, that in low concentrations, offer great benefits to skin and coat. The key is that the percentage of oil needs to be low enough for it to be safe. We have done extensive research on this over the years, including working with the head of the Veterinary Toxicology entity of the ASPCA to perfect our formulas such that they are safe and non-toxic. Add to this the fact that we’ve been blending and selling products with these oils in them for over 15 years without issue, and we can assure you that our products are well-designed for healthy use on pets and people alike.

Do your hypoallergenic products have any noticeable smell?

We use absolutely no fragrance or scent of any kind in any of our hypo-allergenic or fragrance free shampoos and grooming wipes.

Are your products vegan friendly?

Yes! We don’t do animal testing and do not use animal by products in any of our products.

Are your products gluten free?

All of our products are gluten free with the exception of our conditioners, which contain hydrolyzed wheat.

What's the expiration date on my product?

We use natural preservatives in our products, so they do not expire.

Can earthbath be used with flea control products?

Yes, all of our formulas are compatible with the popular topical flea applications such as Frontline®, Advantage®, and K9 Advantix®.

How often should I bathe my dog?

We recommend no more than once or twice a week. Dogs have natural skin oils that keep their skin healthy and more frequent bathing can remove more than a healthy amount of skin oils.

How soon after or before applying a topical flea application such as The Advantage, etc. should I wait to bathe my dog?

We have been advised by the manufacturers of these applications that dogs should not be bathed 48 hours before or 48 hours after applying the topical flea applications.

Either I am allergic to dogs or cats, or some people who visit my home are. Is there anything I can do to reduce the human/animal allergic reaction?

Human/dog and human/cat allergies are quite common. We suggest regularly using grooming wipes to control dander, shedding and residual saliva that remain in dog’s and cat’s fur as a first line of defense against allergies.

My dog has fleas. Can earthbath help?

Our products are safe to use with and will not wash off commercial flea control products. However, if you’re looking for a more natural solution, our Orange Peel Oil shampoo is very popular. Orange Peel Oil is the natural oil rendered from oranges, and is also called d-Limonene. d-Limonene is registered with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency as an insecticide and is quite effective at killing fleas. We also have shampoos and spritzes that contain eucalyptus and peppermint oils. These essential oils are believed to naturally repel fleas without harsh chemicals or pesticides. For general flea control around the home, you can purchase eucalyptus or peppermint oil at any natural foods store and try putting a few drops in bedding, blankets or wherever your pet sleeps or lies for any period of time. For extra credit, plant peppermint in your garden and window boxes. Placing Eucalyptus leaves or acorns under your dog’s bedding can also work wonders.

My dog itches. Which product should I use?

For itchy skin, we recommend either the Oatmeal & Aloe or Tea Tree & Aloe shampoo. Each addresses a different cause of itching. If your pet has hot spots, or sensitive lesions, the Tea Tree & Aloe will help reduce inflammation because tea tree is recognized to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, and recent research has confirmed its insecticidal properties toward mites, lice and fleas. If your pet has dry, itchy skin, Oatmeal & Aloe will help re-moisturize and condition the skin. Both shampoos contain aloe vera, an effective, complimentary emollient.

Is earthbath safe to use on my puppy?

The products designated as Puppy grooming products are safe, gentle and pH balanced for mildness as well. Across the product line, unless otherwise specified, all of our products are safe for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens over the age of 6 weeks.

Why should I wash my cat and how?

Human cat allergies are quite common, whether they be between owner and feline, or visitors to the home and your precious pussycat. Residual saliva and dander in the cat’s fur as well as in the home are the most common sources of such allergies and can be reduced dramatically through periodic grooming and vacuuming of the home and furniture. earthbath offers a full line of grooming products for our feline friends. We have traditional Cat Shampoo, two varieties of waterless grooming foam for cats, and Cat Wipes. Our Cat Shampoo is loaded with supple conditioners and emollients, while our Grooming Foam is a rub on, towel off solution for deep cleansing without the challenges and risks inherent in water-based bathing, and our Cat Wipes are the simplest solution to purrrfecting your pussy cat’s precious look and feel. With one wipe in each hand, apply a quick rotating motion from head to tail, and Fluffy will look and feel better than ever before.

Why can't I use the Orange Peel Oil shampoo on my cat?

Unfortunately, a very small percentage of cats are allergic to orange peel oil, the natural extract of orange rinds. Although this allergy is quite rare, it can be acute and is best not risked. Dogs do not share this risk and are generally safe to wash with orange peel oil.

Is earthbath safe to use on my kitten?

The products designated as kitten grooming products are safe, gentle and pH balanced for mildness as well. Across the product line, unless otherwise specified, all of our products are safe for dogs, cats, puppies and kittens over the age of 6 weeks.